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ADDRESS , 

Of the Board of Managers of the American Coloni- 
zation Society to the Public, 

The period has arrived when the American Colonization 
Society is called to increased activity and extended opera- 
tions. The attention of the Society has hitherto heen prin- 
cipaily engaged in collecting and ditfueing information. 
The information thus collected is sufficient to satisfy every 
candid and judicious inquirer, that the establishment of a 
colony on the west coast of Africa is safe and practicable, 
and that it will be of great benefit both to this country and 
to Africa. We believe, likewise, that there is a debt of 
justice and of moral obligation due from the people of this 
country to Africans, and theirdescendantsin both continents, 
which can be discharged more satisfactorily' ^nd beneficially 
to each, in this way, than in any other. The board of Ma-j^,^v. 
nagers, therefore, some time since, came to the tesolutidti'tff " 
commencing the colony as soon as funds could be pro^jfecd., 
and the necessary arrangements made. The ^o^j^^re^^ 
since been engaged in preparatory measures for Hi^^fip- 
rangements, a brief statement of which it is proposed to lay 
before the public. In the number of circumstances which 
have since occurred to strengthen their hands and encourage 
their hearts, to animate their zeal and quicken theiir '^j^i- • 
gedce, they gratefully recognise the smiles of Providetice on 
their humble efforts. 

It is already known to the p|«l>lfe, that the Managers laid 
before Congress, at the last session, a great variety of docu- 
raents, and other valuable information, relative to ,tli^" 
proposed colony and the slave trade, selections from w;liic^i 
have been published by that body, with the SecoilS-Air 
nual Report of the Society. The shortness of the ses- 
sion, and the mass of other important business before Con- 
gress, did not leave sufficient time for the discussion and 
consideration of the question of colonization. At the close; 
of the session, however, an important law passed, en- 
titled " An act, in addition to the acts prohibiting the 
slave trade." This law was zealously supported by the 
friends of the Society, and shortly after its passage a coin 
inittee vvas appointed by the Board to wait on the President 
of the United Statesand the heads of departments, to tender 
the services of the Managers in any way in which (hey 
might he useful in carrying it info efiect. From lise ?nea- 
sures adopted by the executive, it is probable, that thert) 
will be a number of captured negroes to be provided for be- 
fo^e|the end of the year; and assurances having been given 






> ii.'it il llie Society would procure a proper situation in Africa, 
the captured negroes should be put under its care, and be 
provided for at the public expense, the course to be pursued 
by the Board could no longer remain doubtful. A number 
of free people of colour in different parts of the United States 
have already offered themselves for the colony. To select 
those best qualified to lay the foundation of this infant esta- 
blishment, the Managers feel is of the utmost importance to 
its future character and prosperity. To aid in this and other 
itnportant preparatory measures, the Board has appointed 
the Rev. William Meade, of Virginia, agent of the Society. 
To those who know Mr. Mead, the value of his labours and 
the importance of his pastoral services, this appointment 
Avill be one of the highest pledges which the Managers can 
give to the public of the importance of the duties in which 
(hey are engaged, and of their zeal and perseverance in their 
/lischarge. 

The Managers have entered upon these duties, and en- 
ccaged in these measures, with an humble dependence upon 
Divine Providence, and a firm reliance on the justice, hu- 
manity, and liberality of their fellow citizens, that the ne- 
cessary pecuniary aid will be afforded for the prosecution of 
their plans. For the purpose of collecting funds, and of 
giving and procuring information, agents will be sent to the 
different cities in the United States, and to such other 
|)laces as will be convenient. It is hoped that associations 
will be formed in different parts of the United States to aid 
the Society. Over so widely extended a country much 
must be left to the voluntary exertions of tlie people. 

We have, however, now to make a more pressing call for 
immediate relief and aid. A few days since, the hon. Wm. 
H. Crawford, Secretary of the Treasury, one of the Vice 
Presidents of the Society, transmitted to the Board of Ma- 
nagers an advertisement in a Georgia newspaper, offering 
lor sale, on the 4th of May next, thirt}-^ or forty negroes, 
who had been introduced into the state in violation of the 
\divt proMMting the slave trade. (1) The law of Georgia, di- 
recting these sales, passed Dec. 19lh, 1817, and maybe 
found in the appendix to the Second Annual Report of the 
Society, p. 91. letter I. By the 3d section of that law, it 
is provided, " That if, |)reviou3 to any sale of any such per- 
sons of colour, the Society for colonizing the free jiersons of 
colour, within the United States, Avill undertake to transport 
them to Africa, or any other foreign place, Avhich they may 
procure as a colony for free persons of colour, at the sole ex- 
pense of said Society, and shall likewise pay to his excol- 
lenc}'^ the governor all expenses incurred by tjie state since 



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the)' have been capliired ami contlemned, his excellency 
the governor is authorized and requested to aid in promoting 
the benevolent views of said Society in such manner as he 
may deem expedient." 

The Board unanimously determined to avail themselves 
of the privilege contained in this law, and to send an agent 
to Georgia to comply with the conditions, and to lake charge of 
these unhappy victims of violence and fraud, for the purpose 
of returning them to their native soil. Preparations are 
making, with the aid of the government, for a safe asylum, (2) 
where they will be provided for and instructed till the co- 
lony can be prepared for their reception. Providence has 
thus enlarged the sphere of usefulness and the field of exer- 
tion for the Society. The Managers are called to more ac- 
tive duty, and an opportunity is thus given to the public, in 
the. commencement of our operations, to test the sincerity of 
those expressions of detestation so frequently uttered against 
the slave trade, and of those frequent professions of sym- 
pathy for the abused and oppressed Africans. The call is 
urgent, the occasion pressing, the time short ; much is to be 
done in a few days, or these unhappy beings will be beyond 
our reach. It is supposed that about five thousand dollars 
may be required for this object ; and as there is not time to 
make personal application to individuals, it is requested that 
the Auxiliary Societies and individuals favourable to this 
this object, will make immediate exertions to raise funds to 
enable the Board to comply with the conditions of the 
Georgia law\ Money collected for this purpose, and dona- 
tions for the general object of the Society, may be forwarded 
to David Engiish, cashier of the Union Bunk of Georgetown, 
District of Columbia, Treasurer of the Society. 

We know that we commence our operations and make 
this call at a time peculiarly embarrassing. Times and sea- 
sons are in the hands of Him who doeth what seeraeth him 
right, and can overrule all to our good. He who giveth Cor 
such objects but lendeth to the Lord. We have ibllowed 
what wc believe to be the o[)enings of Providence. This 
time may be selected to try our faith and test our sincerity. 
The widoAv's mite was more acceptable than the costly of- 
ferings of the great. Will not, then, the sacrifices now made 
in a proper spirit, be more acceptable than the offerings from 
the overllowiiigs of abundance ? 

By order of the Board of Managers, 

E. B. CALDWELL, Scc'ry 
.Jxo. UNnr;«\i"nGP, Rccordifi<:^ Stc'nj. 



(Notel.;) 
From the Georgia paper. 

SALE OF AFRICAN SLAVES, 
©n Tuesday, the 4th of May next, in the town of Milledgeville, wLU 
be exposed to public sale, to the highest bidder, between Ihirty and forty 
prime African slaves, which have been taken 'possehsion of by the state of 
Georgia in consequence of their having been introduced contrary to the 
laws of this State, and of the United States. Indisputable titles will be 
made, and prompt payment lequired. 

By order of the Governor, 
March 6, 1819. CHARLES WILLIAMSON, Agent. 



(Note 2.) 
George TV. P. Ciistis, Esq. of Arlington, the grandson of Mrs. Wash- 
ington, cheerfully offered the use of his Island near Cape Charles, at the 
mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, and accompanied the offer with a refusal 
to accept, any compensation. It is called Smith's Island ; and is happily 
adapted, and most favourably located for the purpose j and has been se- 
lected by the President of the United States for the captured Africans, 
till they can be sent to Africa. 



CONSTITUTION 

OF THE 

AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY 



Art. I. — This Society shall be called, " The American So- 
ciety for colonizing the free people of colour of the United 
States.'- 

Art. II. — The object to wliich its attention is to be exclu- 
sively directed, is to promote and execute a plan for coloniz- 
ing (with their consent) the free people of colour residing in 
our country, in ^^frica, or such other place as Congress shall 
deem most expedient. And the Society shall act, to effect this 
object, in co-operation with the general government, and such 
of the states as may adopt regulations upon the subject. 

Art. III. — Every citizen of the United States, who shall 
subscribe these articles, and bean annual contributor of one 
dollar to the funds of the Society, shall be a member. On pay- 
ing a sum not less than thirty dollars, at one subscription, shall 
be a member for life. 

Art. IV. — The officers of this Society shall be, a President, 
Vice-Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Recorder, and a 
Board of Managers, composed of the above named officers, and 
twelve other members of the Society. They shall be annually 
elected by the members of the Society, at theii* annual meeting 
on the Saturday preceding new year's day, and continue to 
discharge their respective duties till others are appointed. 

Art. V. — It shall be the duty of the President to preside at 
all meetings of the Society, and of the Board of Managers, and 
to call meetings of the Society, and of the Board, when lie thinks 
necessary, or when required fay any three members of the 
Board. 

Art. VI — The Vice-Presidents, according to seniority, 
shall discharge these duties in the absence of the President. 

Art. VII. — The Secretary shall take minutes of the pro- 
ceedings, prepare and publish notices, and discharge such 
other duties as the Board, or the President, or, in his absence, 
the Vice-President, according to seniority, (when tlie Board is 
not sitting,) sltall direct. And the Recorder shall record the 
proceedings and the names of the members, and discharge 
such other duties as may be recjuired of him. 

Art. V III. — The Treasurer shall receive and take charge 
of the funds of the Society, under such security as may bepi-e- 
scribed by the Board of Managers ; keep tlie accounts, and 
exhibit a statement of receipts and expenditures at every an- 
nual meeting, and disclinri^e such other (hities a;^ may be re- 
quired of him. 



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Art. IX. — The Board of INIanagers shall ineet on the first 
Monday in January, the first Monday in April, the first Mon- 
day in July, and the first Monday in October, every year, and 
at such other times as the Presitlent may direct. They shall 
conduct the business of the Society, and take such measures 
for effecting its object as they shall think proper, or shall be 
directed at the meetings of the Society, and make an annual 
report of their proceedings. They shall also fill up all vacan- 
cies occurring during the year, and make such by-laws for 
their government as they may deem necessary, provided the 
same are not repugnant to this constitution. 

Art. X. — Every Society which shall be formed in the Uni- 
ted States to aid in the object of this Association, and which 
shall co-operate with its funds for the purposes thereof, agree- 
ably to the rules and regulations of this Society, shall be con- 
sidered auxiliary thereto ; and its officers shall be entitled to 
attend and vote at all meetings of the Society, and of the 
Board of Managers. 



The Board of Managers of the American Coloni- 
zation Society beg leave to lay before you the following 
letter from their agents the Rev. Mr, Mead, relative 
to a most interesting subject, to which they some time 
since solicited the public attention. They return tfieir 
ivarmest thanks to those from whose benevolence they 
have received contributions; and they hope that, al- 
though a considerable sum is still necessary for the at- 
iainmeui of their objects their appeal to the humanity of 
their fellow-citizens will be effectual. 

Washington City, May 19th, 1819. 



Milledgeiillc, May ilh, 1B19. 

My Dear Sir : This day, which was to have been the 
day of bondage and sorrow to the poor Africans, on v. Jiose 
account I was sent to this place, has been turned into a day 
of liberty and joy to them. At least, I confidentiy hope that the 
arrangements we have made will eventuate thus happily, and 
that, before the year is ended, they will see their native land 
and all which they love most on earth. The Governor has 
postponed the sale, and afforded me an opportunity of seeking, 
among the huma.-:e and generous of this southern country, 
the means of their redemption. I enter upon this task to- 
morrow, by conveuino; the citizens of this place to form aa 
Auxiliary Society. An attempt has been made to recover 
these poor creatures into the hands of certain individuals 
who were concerned either in their first capture, or in their 
purchase a:id introduction into this state — but there is, I 
hope, nothing to fear from this combination of avarice and 
oppression against the claims of justice and humanity. 1 ar- 
rived here Oii Saturday evening, and on Sunday morning 
walked out to their little encampment in the vicinity of ihe 
town, to see them. As 1 apj^Moached their habitation I 
found them gathered around a good old man, into whose care 
they had been given, and who was telling them that some 
good people had sent me to prevent Ihcir sale, and carry them 
back to Africa. I wish you could have been with me to 
have witnessed their joy ; they crowded around me, and b)^ 
turns took hold of my hands, and, in broken Eifglish, ex- 
pressed their gratitude. They at first (as the old man told 
me) would scarcely believe it; they had never heard of any 
such thing before, and it is no wonder they shouhl doubt it. 
Even the next day one of them said to him, " Avhile |)cople 
never send negroes back to Africa; i never see n)y children 
again." Tlie old man, who had gained their confidence, 
asked them if lie ever told them a lie, and this seemed to en- 
courage their fuilh. A very strong attachment has grown 
up between them and him, and I have seen them sheil tears 
while speaking to them about leaving him. He asked one, 
who seemed more overjoyed than the rest at the thought of 
going, "if he wanted to leave old Daniel, (for that is his 
name,) who had taken such good care of hinj, and given him 
so nmtdi good messes ?" 'J'he poor fellow buns his head as 
if convicted of ingratitude, and then said, "he did not want 
to leave him, but wante<l home brtter;" and promised that if 
he would go to Africa he would serve him two, three years, 
and give him loo much good things." Indeed, niv dear 



iVieud, a few nioiuents were sufticieut to satisfy me that they 
were the children of tlie same God with ourselves, having 
the same aflfections, and capable of the same enjoyments. 
On their countenance 1 could see written these memorable 
words : " Am 1 not a man and a brother ?" Some oi them 
so strildncly resemble some of our American negroes, that I 
could hdve sworu I had seen them beiore, had I met them 
in any other place, or under different circumstances. Some 
of them have very sensible and amiable countenances, while 
others are vacant and unmeaning. They were captured ia 
two parcels from Angola and Fowlah, and brought together 
at the Rio Pangos, from whence they were shipped. I 
learned the history of each one, and discovered that, so far 
from all being taken in war and sold, instead of being kill- 
ed, as the advocates of the slave trade maintain, not one of 
these Avere prisoners of war, but most of them seized by 
AVretches hired for the purjiose, in the fields, on the road, or 
sleeping in their houses. They express, by word, and the 
dismal contortion of their faces, the greatest horror at their 
treatment during the passage. Every morning many were 
taken out of ihe hold dead, and thrown (as they say) to he 
messes for the 6sh, and the rest, could scarcely live for the 
horrid smell of the ship. It was in this cargo, or the one 
seized a short time before, and brought into Savannah, that, 
Avhile off our coast, they were reduced to the necessity of 
eating the fjesh from iheir own arms, for the sustenance of 
life, la conversing with such of them as had learned to 
«peak the English tolerably well, I found that they hfld been 
to Sierra Leone and Sherbro, and were we!! acquainted v»ith 
those places. Many of them had seen Kizeii, and shid he 
was a good man ; and, when 1 mentioned the name of Paul 
Curfee. half a dozen at least cried out, yes! yes! They 
seemed to know and appreciate his character. One of the 
boys in the parcel can write Arabic; and I am told,* in the 
other parcel which were sold, there were several who must 
have been great men in their country, and who liiade consi- 
derable proficiency in such learniiig as might be acquired by 
intercourse with the northern, part of Africa. One of them 
asked, with groat concern, if we woidd not send hack those 
who were sold last year, and seemetl distressed at being toid 
that it would be impossible. A gentleman, who was present 
at the sale, describes their [jarting to their several masters as 
a ujost afiiictirsg scene. When they bid each other f;\re'.vell, 
never expecting to meet again, they wei)t most bitterly-, and 
plainly proved that the feelings of nature were as strong in 
them as in anj' others. This is a dreadful suhject to write 
about, my dear friend, but it is my duty to give you such a 



detail : we must know the extent of the evil before we can 
apply a remedy. 

The Alricana whose release we are seeking will be left 
under the care of the same good old man already mentioned, 
and whom I cannot mention too often with too much com- 
mendation. God seems to have raised him up to be the friend 
of these unfortunate race of beings; be is never as happy as 
when in the midst of them, and they ever look up to him as 
their best friend. He is universally beloved in this place. — 
You cannot mention his name, but each one exclaims, 
' Daniel is the best man in the world, and the fittest person to 
manage these poor captives.' So much is he devoted to this 
cause, and so generous is his nature, that, though very poor, 
he said he would give fifty dollars of his wages to the Society. 
He will conduct them to the ship, whenever they go on to 
Smith's Island, if they be ordered there ; indeed it would be 
impossible to get them willing to follow any other person, 
fo'ti^ey confide in no other. 

Jl^ve now given you all the necessary information about 
the special object of my mission to this place. On t^riday, 
I set out for Augusta, where I shall spend several days, 
thencevto Savannah, Beaufort, Charleston, Georgetown, 
Wilmington, and so on to Virginia. It will be some time 
in July before I reach home, even without any unexpected 
delay. • 

With sincerity, I remain your friend, 

WILLIAM MEAD. 
E. B. Caldwelii, Esq. 

Secretary American Colonization Society. 

*^* Contribittors will please to send their najnes and sums 
to David Exgltsh, Esq. Treasurer, Georgetown, CD. C.) 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




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